‘Respect Vande Mataram’: Bankim Chandra’s Descendant Asks Sonia Gandhi to Apologise

• BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee seeks unconditional apology from Sonia Gandhi.
• Letter alleges discomfort over the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’.
• Chatterjee calls the incident an insult to India’s freedom movement.
• Congress denies the allegation, saying Sonia Gandhi was asking for a chair for Mallikarjun Kharge.

GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 17th Aug: A fresh political controversy has erupted over the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, with BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of national song composer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, demanding an unconditional apology from Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the alleged incident during the Congress’ Independence Day function.

In a letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, Chatterjee described the alleged episode at the AICC headquarters on August 15 as “not merely unfortunate but a shameless repetition of a historical mistake.” Writing as “an ordinary citizen, a patriot and a direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,” he said he felt “deep pain, emptiness and anger” over what he termed an insult to Vande Mataram.

Referring to Sri Aurobindo’s description of Vande Mataram as a mantra of patriotism, Chatterjee said any reluctance to allow the complete rendition of the song amounted to disrespect for the sacrifices of freedom fighters, including revolutionary Khudiram Bose. He also recalled the song’s historic role in India’s freedom movement, citing its rendition by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress session and its use by nationalist leaders and students during the struggle against British rule.

The BJP legislator further alleged that the Congress had followed a “dual policy” on Vande Mataram since 1937, claiming the party had earlier agreed to sing only selected portions of the song. He questioned why the Congress’ West Bengal student wing uses the slogan “Mantra moder sanjeevan – Vande Mataram” while, according to him, the party’s national leadership appeared uncomfortable with its complete rendition.

Calling Vande Mataram a symbol of India’s freedom struggle rather than the property of any political party, Chatterjee urged Sonia Gandhi to issue an unconditional apology to the nation, particularly to the people of West Bengal, saying the incident had hurt public sentiments.

The controversy stems from the Congress’ Independence Day celebrations, where BJP leaders alleged that Sonia Gandhi objected to the full rendition of Vande Mataram. The Congress has categorically rejected the allegation, stating that Sonia Gandhi was only asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge and that the national song was sung in full without interruption.